Split ring



n(No Model.) W. IVI. FISHER.

\ SPLITv RING. No. 295,158. `lamennsd Mam. 18, i884.

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 295,158, dated Marchl18, 1884.

Application filed December 17, 1853. (No model.)

To ftZZ wtom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, NVILLIAM M. FISHER, a citizen of the United States,and a resident ci' Attieborough, in the county of Bristol and State ofMassachusetts, have invented an Iniprovement in Split Rings, of whichthe following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings,is aspeciiication, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object the productfon of a novel split ring-aring in which the ends cannot possibly fall in position to engage theclothing or so project as to be caught.

Split rings, such as heretofore made, are round or as truly circular aspossible, and in use that part oi' the ring where the ends terl minatemay, by the rotation of the ring, fall in any position, and suchpoint,`as the ring is used as a link of a chain, shifts from point topoint as the ring is rotated. Split rings are very commonly strained orexpanded by the engagement with them oi' another ring or loop to agreater extent than they can bear,and thereafter are unable to resumetheir original closed condition, and in such condition the ends of therings become horns or prongs, ever ready to catch into otherobjects-such as clothing, &c.--whieh is very objectionable.

. To obvi-.ue this difficulty and produce a ring which, should it beexpanded too much, would not leave its ends exposed, and at the sainetime make a split ring which may be employed in a chain havingelongatedlinks, and be less noticeable, I have produced a split ringwhich in shape is oval, and which has its ends at the endof the ring, sothat said ends are always shieldcdby the link which engages it, and itis in such novel split ring, as an improved article of manufacture, thatmy in vention consists.

Figure l represents one of my improved rings in side elevation; Fig. 2,an edge view;

-Fig. 3, a top view oi Fig. l; Fig. 4, a bottoni die, thus alwaysleaving the ends b c of the split ring fall at the end or mostcontracted or narrowest part of the ring. in order that the said ends ofthe ring, if unduly expanded, will always be shielded by the ringconnected with split ring, as shown in Fig. 5.

It is very desirable that when in use a split ring should have, as muchas possible, the appearance of a solid ring. Vif hen the ends b c areshielded, as stated, my improved split ring fulfills this condition asnearly as possible. Besides, there being more surface in contact whenmysplit ring engages a link than .in the case of a round split ring, thesaid engaged link tends to press or bind the ends .of my improved splitring together when said ends have been thrown apart by the engaged link.

It has long been desirable to use asplit ring in the manufacture ofexpensive Masonic and other badges; but for the reason that round splitrings are not adapted for such use, mainly on account of their shape,manufacturers have heretofore been compelled to employ soldered ovaljump-rings. Benecial results follow the use oi an oval split ring inwhich its ends are not in the line oi' its major axis; yet while Iconsider such a ring as coniing within the scope ci' my invention, Iprefer that the ends of my improved ring be located as shown anddescribed, so as to bring about the best results.

I am aware that chain-links or jump-rings have been made oval; but I ainnot aware that a split ring has ever been of other shape than circular.

I claiml. As an improved article of manufacture, an oval-shaped splitring, as and for the purposes set i'orth.

2. As an improved article of manufacture, the herein-described ovalsplit ring having its free ends terminating on oppositesides at one endof the ring, all substantially as shown, and i'or the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name .to this speciiication in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

- WILLIAM M. FISHER.

W'itnesses:

Jas. F. F. GLnAnY, HENRY HARPER.

